PART VI VILLA GARDENING 511 



broadcast. When about 1 iucli high thin out to 2 inches apart, 

 and sift a little light rich soil over them. Other beds may be 

 made up in succession if required ; in fact, there is no difficulty in 

 obtaining young Carrots all the year round, as the winter supply 

 can be obtained from a sowing of early Scarlet Horn on a warm 

 border in July, leaving them in the ground, drawing them fresh as 

 required, and sheltering them in severe weather with cby fern or 

 litter. The best variety for forcing is the early French Horn. 

 Early Horn Carrots may be raised in sirring without glass. Dig 

 out a trench 2 feet deep, fill in with warm manure, place 6 inches 

 of good soil on the top, and sow the seeds, covering thinly with 

 light sandy soil. Protect the bed at night and during cold days 

 with hoops and mats. 



Cauliflowers. — Veitch's Forcing Cauliflower has small com- 

 pact hearts, very close and white. The habit of the plants is 

 dwarf and sturdy, and well adapted for forcing, succeeding Avell in 

 pots or planted out on a bed of leaves and manure, in a pit, or in 

 the borders of a low light house. Cauliflowers are not generally 

 required before May : indeed, by growing a good stock of late 

 Broccoli there is no difficulty in obtaining good white heads of 

 Broccoli as late as the middle of June. But young early Cauli- 

 flowers are generally more esteemed than late Broccoli ; at any 

 rate it is as well to have two strings to one's bow, and whei-e 

 there is space under glass, or a temporaiy hotbed can be made in 

 a warm sheltered corner. Cauliflowers will not cost much to pro- 

 duce. A Cauliflower that turns in so quickly need not be sown 

 so early as the Early London. Sow in November, under glass, 

 in a box ; prick off singly into .3-inch pots, plunge the pots in a 

 bed of leaves near the glass, and shift into larger pots as more 

 space is required, still keeping the plants near tlie glass- in a pit 

 or house where there is a little warmth. As the days lengthen, a 

 little more heat may be given if necessary to hasten their growth, 

 but forcing should not be resorted to unless fidl light can be given. 

 Very nice little Cauliflowers can be grown in 6-inch pots if the pots 

 are plunged in leaves or sawdust, or something that will generate a 

 little warmth. I have sown the seeds as late as Christmas, and 

 cut from the plants in May by growing them on in heat. The 

 forcing should be gently done, especially when the plants are 

 getting large; there should be plenty of ventilation, and they 

 should occupy a very light position. Liquid manure will be a great 

 help during the latter part of the time. 



French Beans. — With adequate means, French Beans may 

 be had all the year round. In winter they must have a light 

 position near the glass in a temperature of 60° to 65° at night. 



